7-Tips : TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS WITH CAMERAS

Taking great photographs with today's automatic cameras allows anyone to
produce a sharp, well-exposed image. If you are just beginning to use
an 'auto-everything' camera like a 35mm compact or program SLR then your
main area of control is going to be in the composition of your
photographs. No one can tell you how to take a great picture because it
comes down to your ability to 'see' the potential to create a picture.
Never-the-less, here are 7 tips and techniques you can use to improve
the final look of your photographs. You will find some of the most
popular, effective and easy to implement photo techniques, that you will
be able to start using right away, to improve your picture taking.

Tip 1: Read your camera manual, then read it again. Keep it with the
camera and learn all of your camera's features. The more familiar you
become with what your camera will do the more you will be a photographer
and not just a picture taker. The more your camera automatically
becomes an extension of your eyes and fingers, the more you can
concentrate on your photo before you take it.

Tip 2: The Rule of Thirds. Divide the image in your viewfinder into
three sections with 2 imaginary horizontal and 2 imaginary vertical
lines. Place your subject near one of the intersections of those lines.
Placing your subject off-center creates an interesting, dynamic image that makes the photo more interesting.

Tip 3: Find fresh angles to take your photograph from. Change your
viewpoint or the angle of view, don't be afraid to shoot from a low
angle especially when photographing pets. Several years ago a single use
camera manufacturer gave a camera to each of a group of younger
children, the resulting pictures changed the way we look at camera
angles to take photographs. When you change your camera angle be sure to
get horizons horizontal. Be conscious of getting Images Straight and be
sure to fill your picture frame.

Tip 4: Create active space - When photographing any object that is
moving or would require space if it moved. leave space for the move. If
you photographed your pet and placed the nose on the edge of the photo
and left space behind, the photo would look very uncomfortable. Leave
room in front and put the back close to the edge of the photo to create
active space.

Tip 5: Getting backgrounds right and framing your shots. Use a dark
background for taking a picture of a light object, or, alternatively, a
light background for a picture of a dark object.

Caution: Absolutely light backgrounds cause flare effect that lead to
reducing the overall contrast of a picture. The use of an object to
frame your photo can greatly reduce this effect. For example you can use
a tree limb over the top part of your photo when you take scenic photos
to help improve the composition and reduce the glare.

Tip 6: Center of Interest. Try and keep only one center of interest
having too many interest points in a photo is distracting causing the
viewer to lose focus and interest. Use Tip 2 to place the center of
interest in the proper place. When you shoot people portraits keep the
subjects eyes around the top 1/3rd grid line.
Always use less distraction. Sometimes your mind tends to exaggerate
what you see through the viewfinder of your camera. Very often things
are perceived bigger than they actually are. What you end up with is a
photograph with huge areas of wasted space around the edge and people
with things growing out of their heads.

Tip 7: Editing: Before you show anyone all those holiday photos
you took, edit your work. Take out all the doubles, all the duds, the
ones that are out of focus and generally the ones you think are crap.
Only show people the good stuff and your perception as a photographer
immediately increases. Pro's often shoot a load of junk like anyone
else, they just don't show it to anybody.
Author Bio
Carm, a retired photo lab owner, believing photography to be one of the
best hobbies we can take up because it is a never ending source of
pleasure in the photos we take and there is always something we can
learn as long as we want to take photos. To read about hobbies and hobby
ideas especially as a source of retirement activity come on over and
visit www.boredbabyboomer.comArticle Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com -